The mercurial devourer of knowledge—and giver of care and affection—in youth has crafted his own, unique path. Ram Guha is a category- efying scholar who takes on bhakts and mullahs.
TO know someone for 42 years, and for the liking and valuing to grow, Bordeaux-like, with age says a lot about that person. That is how I feel about Ramachandra Guha, who entered my life at St. Stephen’s College way back in 1976 as a mentor and guide, roles he unilaterally chose for himself as my self-anointed ‘Anna’ or big brother, and has stayed on to become a close friend.
Then as now, Ram was opinionated, and mercurial. Then, more than now, there was the lurking vulnerability rela ted in part to his chronic asthma. Then, hopefully with no traces now, he was prone to melodrama. I think in one such fit, he gave away his entire collection of great cricket books, only to rebuild that part of his library later in life when sense and sobriety returned.
My abiding early memory is of Ram standing below my room at St. Stephen’s, morning newspaper and asthma inhaler in hand, hair ruffled and splayed (even as it is today), muezzining me for breakfast with repeated calls of ‘SuperDey’. With playful mercilessness he mocked me out of my delusions of cricketing ability, punctured my pre tensions to being wellread and knowl edgeable, and continually exposed my sartorial tastes, contrasting the flare of my cheap, bellbottom trousers with the chic drainpipes and jeans of the just turnedcoed St. Stephen’s.
Any transition from the relative back waters of my unknown, modest school in Chennai to St. Stephen’s would have guaranteed that levelling; Ram simply hit the fastforward button on that process, and looking back, rightly so.
この記事は Outlook の April 09, 2018 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Outlook の April 09, 2018 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Pillars of Viksit Bharat 2024
The Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat 2047' represents a complete blueprint for the country’s prosperity during its Amrit Kaal towards attaining resolutions made for Aatmanirbhar Bharat’
Innovation in Healthcare Products
Vatsal Desai pioneering the path to healthier living in a growing India
A Master Weaver of Heart Health
In the intricate tapestry of interventional cardiology, Dr Vashisth Das stands out as a master weaver, deftly navigating the delicate threads of life and technology to mend hearts and restore hope
Viksit Bharat 2047: Empowering India through Education & Self-Reliance
As India approaches 2047, the centenary of its independence, the dream of a “Viksit Bharat” – a fully developed, selfsufficient, and inclusive nation – is steadily turning into reality.
Revolutionising New Age Learning
A visionary leader and an educationist par excellence, GS Patnaik shares with the Outlook Group his approach towards driving Value-based and holistic learning initiatives
Pioneering Social Transformation
Achyuta Samanta dedicated to bringing about social change through education and social services for people at the grassroots level
A Vision for Developed India
The concept of Viksit Bharat” Developed India) embodies the aspiration for a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable India. The framework for achieving this ambitious but achievable goal, in my opinion, can be articulated through some key pillars that serve as the foundation for national progress
Chasing Dreams Relentlessly
For the young and aspiring youth, Manu Bhaker is a fine example of how hard work and perseverance can help achieve set targets
Standing Tall as a Pillar in Healthcare Sector
As technology is advancing and there is an upsurge in medical sciences, Yashoda Hospital is keeping up to its promise of providing top tier healthcare services using specialised and advanced medical technologies and equipment.
Upholding/Strengthening India's 'Viksit Bharat' Dreams
Landmark Crafts Pvt. Ltd., Ghaziabad, Delhi-NCR, is a flourishing enterprise where necessity, keen identification of agap and the right timing of launching HP Self-Drilling Screws in 1995, backed by grit, is a perfect recipe of a success story that pioneered an industry. Mr Pankaj Lidoo and MrVipin Lidoo, Directors of the company, hailing from Kashmir, have set their target to achieve India's dream of a Viksit Bharat by 2047 with visionary zeal